Illuminated liquid soap dispenser

ABSTRACT

An illuminator for illuminating liquid transparent or opaque liquid containers. The container is either positioned on top of the illuminator and receives illumination from the illuminator in order to light up the container or else contains the illuminator entirely inside the container. Once illuminated, the container can serve as a decorative piece within any room within which it is contained. The container can also serve as a light source in any dark room.

This application is a continuation in part of U.S. application Ser. No.10/923,137 filed Aug. 19, 2004.

FIELD OF THE INVENTIONS

The inventions described below relate to illuminators of liquid soapcontainers or other transparent or opaque liquid containers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONS

Liquid soap comes in variously styled containers. The containers canvary in size and dimensions depending on where the liquid soap is to beused. Kitchen soap containers are generally of larger dimensions inorder to contain a greater volume of soap. Bathroom soap containers areoften smaller because they are not used as frequently and requiresmaller portions at each use. Additionally, they are often of a morestylized configuration because they can be prominently displayed in thebathroom.

The soap container is usually stored or displayed on any conventionalbathroom or kitchen storage location where it lays unmoved until used.The container is often displayed in a place on the counter that can beobserved prominently from many different locations in the room.

New and inventive ways to display the soap containers is always beingsought. In addition, although the market for liquid soap and itsassociated containers is large, continued sales volume depends oninnovative designs, and marketing techniques for disposable liquid soapcontainers. Thus, complimentary devices for use with disposable liquidsoap containers are needed.

SUMMARY

The devices and methods described below provide for an illuminator forliquid soap containers or other transparent or opaque liquid containers.The container can be sized and dimensioned of any configurationpreferable to the user. The container may be positioned on top of theilluminator that is capable of supporting the container. The illuminatedcontainer may also contain a light source that is embedded within thecontainer at any desirable location. For example, the light source maybe embedded on either the top or bottom of the container. Theilluminator provides any color or colors of light that are aestheticallypleasing in order to illuminate the soap container. Once illuminated,the container can serve as a decorative piece within any room in whichit is contained. Also, if contained within a soap dispenser, theilluminator can serve as a scheme to entice children to use the soap andwash their hands. Alternatively, the illuminated container can serve thepurpose of providing a night light source in a dark room. For example,the container can illuminate a dark bathroom where a person may enter inthe middle of the night.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a bottle with a light source in the bottom;

FIG. 2 is a bottle with a light source in the cap;

FIG. 3 a illustrates a cube shaped illuminator;

FIG. 3 b illustrates a cube shaped illuminator positioned in the bottomof the container;

FIG. 4 a illustrates a disc shaped illuminator;

FIG. 4 b illustrates a container positioned on a disc shapedilluminator; and

FIG. 5 illustrates a configuration with an alternative activator for theilluminator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONS

FIG. 1 is a container with an illuminator 14 built into the bottom ofthe container 18. In this configuration, the light source is containedwithin the bottom portion of the container. The light source iscontained on the bottom portion of the container and is separated fromthe liquid 20 by a waterproof divider 27. The container is illuminatedby the light source. The container can be translucent or merely opaqueso that at least a small amount of light can pass through the containerand illuminate the container.

The illuminator 14 contains a battery 30, at least one LED 32 and aswitch 34. The battery 30 is operably connected to the LED and serves asthe energizing source for illuminating the LED. The switch 34 isoperably connected to the LED 32 to control the application ofelectrical power to the LED. At least a portion of the switch 34 isdisposed outside of the transparent container for access by the user.

FIG. 2 is a bottle with a light source in the cap. In thisconfiguration, the illuminator or light source 13 is contained withinthe cap 15 of the bottle or container 18.

FIG. 3 a is a cube shaped illuminator. The outer casing of theilluminator 11 is clear, which allows for light to pass through andilluminate the container. The entire illuminator housing 11 is capableof being contained entirely within a container.

FIG. 3 b illustrates the cube shaped illuminator positioned in thebottom of the container 18. The container is capable of sustaining theentire cube shaped illuminator 11 either within the container or elsewithin a recessed portion in the bottom of the container.

FIG. 4 a is a disc shaped illuminator capable of sustaining a container.The illuminator 11 is comprised of a housing with a top platform surfacehaving an opening for light to pass through the housing, a bottom basesurface, side surfaces, and a light source contained within the housing.The housing has a top flat platform surface 12 capable of containing aliquid soap dispenser. The housing also has a bottom base surfaceadapted for positioning on a display surface. The housing can becomprised of any type of material that is capable of sustaining theweight of the container. The top platform surface 12 has an opening 14that allows for illumination of the housing through the opening. Thecontainer is releasably secured or positioned on top of the illuminatorhousing.

FIG. 4 b illustrates a container positioned on a disc shapedilluminator. The bottom surface of the container is releasably securedto the top platform surface 12 of the illuminator. The illuminatorhousing is capable of sustaining the weight of the container along withany soap contained within the container. The container 18 has adischarge end for release and discharge of the liquid within thecontainer by a user. The container can be entirely transparent ortranslucent.

Alternatively, the container may be merely opaque to allow for only asmall amount of light to pass through the container. The containercontains liquid 20 that can be any color. When the light source isactivated, the light passes through the opening of the top platformsurface and into the liquid container. Once the light source istransmitted through the container, it illuminates the container.

FIG. 5 illustrates a configuration with an alternative activator for theilluminator. The illuminator 14 contains the battery 30, one LED 32 anda switch 34. Additionally, either a photo sensor or motion sensor 36 iscontained for activation of the illuminator. When the switch is turnedon, the illuminator is lighted once the activator senses either motionor light.

The light source can be illuminated by any standard illumination methodwhere multiple uses are required. For example, the light source can bean electronic circuit incorporated into a circuit board, a switch LED,battery operated LED, motion activated LED, mechanically activated LED,rotatably activated LED, chemi-luminescent light source, a batterysupplying electrical current to a light emitting diode, or a low voltagebulb. Where the light source is a simple electric circuit, the circuitcan have any conventional battery power a simple LED to provide thelight source within the housing. Any LED used within the housing shouldbe a low power consumption LED to maximize the life of the LED and toavoid overheating. The light source emits a light bright enough to shinethrough the opening in the top surface of the illuminator housing. Thelight then passes through the opening into the container so that thecontainer is illuminated.

In use, a user places the illuminating dispenser on a desired surface.The user engages a switch that is disposed at least partially outsidethe container and accessible by the user. Once the switch has beenengaged, the switch energizes the illuminator to illuminate thecontainer and the liquid contained within the container. The illuminatorcan be disengaged and the illuminator turned off once the user no longerdesires illumination. The illuminator can be an LED and battery operablyconnected to the LED for energizing the LED. Alternatively, a motionactivated or photosensor LED can be used. The motion activated LED isoperably connected to the battery and can be activated by the user withthe switch to engage the LED when motion is detected. The photosensorLED is activated when the switch is turned on and the lights are off.

Thus, while the preferred embodiments of the devices and methods havebeen described in reference to the environment in which they weredeveloped, they are merely illustrative of the principles of theinventions. The illuminator may be useful for soap dispensers as well asperfume dispensers. Other embodiments and configurations may be devisedwithout departing from the spirit of the inventions and the scope of theappended claims.

1. An illuminating dispenser comprising: a transparent containerdefining a dispensing volume; liquid contained within the dispensingvolume; and illumination means contained within the dispensing volumefor illuminating the dispenser comprising an LED, a battery operablyconnected to the LED for energizing the LED and a switch operablyconnected to the LED to control the application of electrical power tothe LED wherein at least a portion of the switch is contained outside ofthe transparent container.
 2. The illuminating dispenser of claim 1wherein the liquid contained within the dispensing volume is liquidsoap.
 3. The illuminating dispenser of claim 1 further comprising amotion sensor.
 4. The illuminating dispenser of claim 1 furthercomprising a photosensor.
 5. An illuminating dispenser comprising: atransparent container defining a dispensing volume; liquid soapcontained within the dispensing volume; and illumination means containedwithin the dispensing volume for illuminating the soap comprising anLED, a battery operably connected to the LED for energizing the LED anda switch operably connected to the LED to control the application ofelectrical power to the LED wherein at least a portion of the switch isdisposed outside of the transparent container.
 6. The container of claim5 further comprising a motion sensor.
 7. The illuminating dispenser ofclaim 5 further comprising a photosensor.
 8. A method of illuminating aroom comprising the following steps: providing an illuminating dispensercomprising a transparent container defining a dispensing volume; aliquid contained within the dispensing volume; and illumination meanscontained within the dispensing volume for illuminating the dispensercomprising an LED, a battery operably connected to the LED forenergizing the LED and a switch operably connected to the LED to controlthe application of electrical power to the LED wherein at least aportion of the switch is disposed outside of the transparent container;and engaging the illumination dispenser via the external switch toilluminate the dispenser.